Duck Race is a massive undertaking, each year. As soon as the sleigh is stripped and "put to bed" in January, planning for Duck Race begins.
Behind the scenes there is a LOT of paperwork, our online Duck Shop needs updating and opening, hundreds of emails are sent, orders processed, ducks delivered, signs updated and put out, thousands of tickets sold door to door and stalls coordinated.
The weeks running up to Duck Race, there are briefings, shopping trips, certificates printed, cakes baked.
The day before Duck Race club members are still hard at work, prepping the river and setting up the course. Some are still busy come the evening, upto their ears making lunches for the volunteers the following day.
On the day itself, many members and volunteers are up at the quack of dawn, getting equipment moved and set up. When the first race starts at 11am most Lions and volunteers have been working for over 4 hours.
Once all the races are run, we're still working - packing equipment away, cleaning the burger van and towing it back and litter picking.
For the next week after Duck Race we are paying out prizes to the lucky duck ticket holders, organising the return of unclaimed "big ducks" and co-ordinating trophy presentations.
Overall despite all the hard work, hopefully we put on a fantastic day for the town and raise lots of money to help us continue giving back to the community, supporting those in need.
See you next year, Duck fans!!
Well done! Looks like a lot of fun !
Thank you 🙏 for all the work you do with the duck race, Santa sleigh and more for the community of Calne. So much would not happen with out the work you do. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Amazing work, we look forward to the duck race every year! 😍🦆
Victoria Lory
We had this Apple air pod case handed in yesterday during the Duck Race (we believe it is an Airpod 4 case). If you think this is yours, please get in touch
Wow, what a day!!! The weather held for us (just about) and there was a fantastic turn out to see all the ducks racing!!
Thanks will follow tomorrow, but we know people want the results, so see below. Please bear with us - most of our Lions have been working hard all day and are now totally "quackered"! We will be back answering questions and sorting stuff out tomorrow after a well deserved evening off.
Winning ticket holders will be contacted tomorrow to sort out paying you your prizes.
We will be in contact with all the winning Ducks to arrange trophy presentations from Monday.
What a great day and thanks to everyone for organising it and to all the stall holders.A great event, very well organised and run
I still can't believe we won! 💪😂
Thank you for organising our Girlguiding made us some much needed money for the Guide Hall
Yay CALNE CROCHET AND NEEDLECRAFT CLUB
Go The Springfields Academy 😊
HADS - Heddington amateur Dramatics Society
Rory Sherwood The Springfields Academy
St Edmund’s Primary School, Calne
🦆🦆QUACK!🦆🦆
Today's the day! Come to town to enjoy Calne Lions' 37th Duck Race.
There's lots to see and do, with stalls on both the Wharf Gardens & Pocket Park, a Heritage Trail, the Love Calne Market and crafts in the Town Hall.
Our "Big Duck" races start from 11am, with 2 Business Duck heats, the Duckling Race and then the Business Final. Once all the "Big Ducks" have crossed the finish line, it is time for the main event - our little yellow ducks (all 3,500 of them) racing down the Marden!
There is still time to buy those last minute tickets, there will be ticket sellers at on both the Wharf and Pocket Park and online sales will still be available until just before we release the yellow ducks.
Tickets can be bought online at www.calnelions.org/duck-race
Thank you again for a great day out! 🦆❤️👍
Quack!!! Tomorrow is Race Day!!
Please see the timetable below. Stalls open on The Wharf and Pocket Park at 10am.
We start the Races off at 11am, and as usual begin with the 2 Business Duck Race Heats. As we wait for the winners of the heats to be transported back to the start line, we will run the Ducklings Race and then finish the "Big Duck" races with the Business Duck Final. The final race of the day will see 3,500 little yellow ducks race to the finish with the first 3 over the finish line securing the lucky ticket holders their cash prizes!
We cannot say exactly when any but the first race will start as it all depends on the speed of the river.
This Saturday 3,500 little yellow ducks will race down the River Marden. The first 3 ducks over the finish line will win their ticket holders a cash prize.
There's only a few days left to buy your Duck Race Tickets. Head to our online Duck Shop at www.calnelions.org/duck-race to get yours, today!
Will you be posting the results?
First time attending this. Where is the start of the duck race? Not sure where to go
What time?
In addition to the Races, and stalls on both The Wharf gardens and Pocket Park, on Saturday, why not head over to the Heritage Centre and try the Trivia Trail.
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Duck Race on Saturday and we are starting to see some of the amazing creations joining the 2026 flock. We have 2 new entries this year - "Barney" from The Dog House plus a duck from the Independent Living Centre, Semington
Don't they both look fabulous!
On Duck Race Day, this Saturday, in addition to the various races and the stalls on The Wharf Gardens, there are also things to do and see on Pocket Park.
Pocket Park will be opening up their Pop-Up Cafe, holding a plant swap and offering sunflower seed planting for the kids. Also on Pocket Park there will be a face painter, candyfloss and sweets and crafts for sale plus stalls run by MF Dance and Calne Football Club.
Where can I buy tickets for the duck race please
Duck Race is almost here!
In addition to the Races for you to watch, we also have community stalls on the Wharf Gardens.
Browse cakes stalls, various tombolas, games, plants and the wonderful products from Men's Shed. Don't forget the Lions Burger Van, which will be there, cooking up burgers, hotdogs and chips and serving drinks.
Remember, if you haven't already got your Duck Race tickets, you can buy them online at www.calnelions.org/duck-race to be in with a chance to win cash prizes!
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Time is running out to enter one of our "Big Duck" races on Saturday 16th May.
Entering a Business Duck or a Duckling is a great way to advertise your business, school or children's group and supports Calne Lions to continue the work we do in the community.
Just head to www.calnelions.org/duck-race and secure your spot among the flock!
There is just under 2 weeks to go before 3,500 little yellow ducks race down the River Marden.
Club members have been out and about selling tickets, but if you haven't got yours yet, just head over to our online Duck Shop. www.calnelions.org/duck-race
What time does it start please
QUACK! Has your business entered yet? 🦆
With only 3 weeks to go, our Business Race flock is still a little thin on the ground. We have lots of space for more businesses and organisations to join in the fun.
There is still plenty of time to enter, whether this will be your first time, you have a duck from previous years you would like to enter, or you've lost your duck and need a new one.
Head to www.calnelions.org/duck-race for more information and to enter.
QUACK!!
Our Trophy Ducks are ready to go to their new homes... We have Best Dressed Business & Best Dressed Duckling, Business Race Winner and Duckling Race Winner.
To be in with a chance of winning one of these beauties, businesses, organisations, schools, nurseries and children's groups need to enter one of our "Big Duck" races.
Decorate a duck, advertise your organisation, be part of an amazing local event and help Calne Lions raise money which goes back into the community, supporting those that need it.
To enter, head to www.calnelions.org/duck-race
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Calne Lions are running a Pop Up Cafe in the Town Hall today.
Come along to listen to some of the wonderful Choirs taking part in the event and then visit us for something to eat and drink.
Duck Race is just over a month away.
We still have space for a few more stalls on Pocket Park. If you group would like to have a stall at Duck Race, then head over to www.calnelions.org/duck-race to purchase your pitch today!
On 14th March this year, Calne Lions hosted a Prostate Screening event in association with The Graham Fulford Charitable Trust (GFCT). The club subsidised the cost of 100 PSA blood tests, allowing members of our community to book a test for just £10.
On the day we had a brilliant turnout, with only 6 missed appointments. Phlebotomists sent by the charity conducted the blood tests quickly and professionally and gentlemen attending the screening were seen promptly.
Results of the PSA tests were sent out to participants within days of the screening event. Results are presented as a traffic light; green results are within normal range, amber mean results are slightly elevated and may need further checks and red results are deemed abnormal and require a follow up with a doctor.
Whilst Calne Lions are not made aware of any specific individual’s actual result, the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust did send the club an overview of the results from our screening event. 80.9% of our participants received a green, 7.4% returned an amber result and 11.7% had a red result.
Early stages of Prostate Cancer often show no symptoms, but if caught early it can often be successfully treated. Although no one wants to receive news of an abnormal result, early detection is vital. Calne Lions hopes that our PSA screening event was helpful for those that participated, either offering reassurance or highlighting that further investigation is needed.
Based on the uptake of this first event, Calne Lions have already booked another, which will take place on 5th September. Booking for this will go live soon.
🦆🦆CALLING ALL BUSINESSES & CHILDRENS GROUPS 🦆🦆
Over the years we have had some amazing entries for our "Big Duck" Races and we can't wait to see the creativity of Calne again this year. Our flocks for both the Business and Ducking Races still have plenty of space in them, so if you haven't already entered, swim over to www.calnelions.org/duck-race to join up.
We also have a few spaces left on Pocket Park for stalls on 16th May.
One Girl & Her Dogs this is how you can enter a business duck 🦆 😁 x